Liberty Hospice is proud to serve as a source of hope and comfort for our patients and their families. Every day the Liberty Hospice team makes a difference in a variety of ways, including companion care, pet therapy, music therapy, our We Honor Veterans Programs, and grief counseling.

The Call to ServiceFor Fred Hopke, chair of the Liberty Lutheran Board of Directors, volunteering with Liberty Hospice was a natural transition from more than 30 years in parish ministry. Now retired from his congregational service, Fred brings the same compassionate care and ministerial spirit with him to serve as a companion to our patients, and as a source of comfort to their families.“Being a hospice volunteer is about walking with people through their life journey. It’s an opportunity to be attentive, to celebrate their lives, and to listen to stories of how they lived and what they’ve gone through,” Fred shares. “As hospice volunteers we are with patients through a peaceful process. We provide support, dignity, and care.”

You can help support Liberty Hospice in a variety of ways. Every day our volunteers provide companionship to older adults in communities across the Greater Philadelphia Area. With opportunities near you, now is the time to get involved. You can make a difference in the lives of our patients and their families by serving as a companion, or through music therapy, pet therapy, or our We Honor Veterans Program.

“What we do as volunteers isn’t magic, it’s simply giving of ourselves and our time. The principle of stewardship calls upon us to utilize our gifts for a greater good and to help one another. If there is a need in our community, we should seek to fulfill it,” Fred says. “There is a need for hospice volunteers. We add value to our patients and their families. Just as we are born into this world surrounded by others, we make it a mission to ensure that no one ends their journey alone, and that no one goes through the grieving process without support.”

Providing Comfort and Peace of MindWhen Karen Watts, a pet therapy volunteer, started working with Liberty Hospice she didn’t know what to expect. Her dog Finn had been trained through the Comfort Caring Canine Program, but this would be the first opportunity for Karen and Finn to work with those facing life-limiting illnesses.

Throughout his time with Karen’s family, Finn had always demonstrated an incredible amount of affection for those around him, now he would bring that same loving spirit to our patients. At first, Karen thought that Finn would be the one exclusively making an impact on someone’s life; little did she know that she too would be touched by the hospice experience.

“My time with Liberty Hospice has been very rewarding. The impact Finn makes is clear and can be seen in the faces of each patient every time we go visit,” Karen shares. “I’ve seen non-verbal patients become expressive when interacting with him. I’m touched to see him bring joy to others, helping them to open up and find moments of joy just based on his presence.”

Karen’s own experience with her parents’ passing is the driving force behind her involvement. Having lost both her mother and father to cancer, Karen saw a need for hospice programs but didn’t know where to turn.

“Both my mother and father were dog-lovers. Had I known that a program like Liberty Hospice existed, particularly the pet therapy program, I know we would have taken advantage of it and that it would have helped them tremendously,” Karen says. “What I’m doing as a volunteer is in their memory; and although Finn and I couldn’t do what we’re doing for my parents, I want to make sure others are provided with a level of compassionate care that provides peace of mind and comfort.”

“How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!” ~Maya Angelou

In 2015, Liberty Hospicelaunched the We Honor Veterans program, an initiative established by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in collaboration with the Department of Veteran Affairs.

The program is a demonstration of Liberty Hospice’s commitment to offering veteran-specific care and services provided by a competent and highly skilled workforce.

Each veteran who enters care with Liberty Hospice is recognized at a We Honor Veterans service. Held either at his or her bedside or wherever the veteran is comfortable, he or she is recognized with an individual certificate and a pin marking their service.

Having served three years of active duty in the US Army Military Police Corps, Karynjean Dickhoff, chaplain for Liberty Hospice, understands how important this service is for veterans and their families. She also believes that acknowledging the shared bond of military service makes veterans more comfortable with receiving gratitude for their service.

“Many call it a ‘quiet understanding’”, said Karynjean. “No matter the age difference, branch of service, or conflicts fought, whenever veterans meet, there is a respect and trust that is instantly formed.”

Joe* was with Liberty Hospice for only seven days. During that brief time, Karynjean held a We Honor Veterans service for him with his wife and daughter at his side. At first, Joe was reluctant to see a chaplain.

On the day of the ceremony, those in attendance thanked him for his service. When Karynjean thanked him and shared her story of service, Joe asked a simple question, “Who has thanked you today?” He and Karynjean formed a bond, which his family found comforting and valuable throughout his time with Liberty Hospice.

Joe’s story is just one of many examples of how Liberty Hospice continues to honor and support veterans.

Annette Conran, director of Liberty Hospice, has stayed in touch with Joe’s family. “After speaking with his wife and daughter, it was clear how much the We Honor Veterans program meant to Joe,” said Annette. “They shared he took comfort in the connection he made with Karynjean and our staff.”

In 2018, Liberty Hospice looks forward to building on its current capacities to further master the We Honor Veterans four levels of commitment. According to NHPCO, these levels include providing veteran-centric education for staff and volunteers, building organizational capacity to provide quality care for vets, developing and strengthening relationships with VA medical centers and other veteran organizations, and increasing access and improving quality of care for veterans in the community.